March 29th - San Jose, California played host to one of the most exciting Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) battles of the year when Strikeforce and Elite XC invaded the HP Pavilion. With 16,326 excited fans in attendance at the HP Pavilion and millions watching on Showtime Premium Television, Frank Shamrock and Cung Le dazzled their hometown fans. Up for grabs, Frank Shamrock's Strikeforce 185-pound World Middleweight Championship.The co-produced event wasn't without it's fair share of problems though, with several of the originally scheduled combatants not making the final fight card. Jake Shields had to drop out of his Strikeforce 170-pound World Welterweight title fight with UFC Veteran Drew Fickett due to a lower back injury. Nick Diaz, also a UFC veteran, wasn't given clearance to fight by the California State Athletic Commission due to partially incomplete paperwork.
This left Fickett and Jae Suk Lim, a Spirit MC Champion from Seoul Korea without opponents. However, at the last minute both fighters agreed to fight each other in a match that Fickett won by way of a guillotine choke submission at 1:14 of the first round.
But even with the few last minute minor hitches that often can occur, there wasn't a person sitting when the Main Event combatants were announced. Frank Shamrock and Cung Le, two fighter both from San Jose, both fighters wanting the bragging rights of being San Jose's best middleweight fighter.
Frank Shamrock was obviously the most experienced, often touted as "the father of modern MMA", current Strikeforce 185-pound champ as well as former UFC champ and former King of Pancrase.
Cung Le, the undefeated up and comer in the sport who was plucked out of war-torn Vietnam as a child, came to America with his mother looking for a better future. Having conquered the sport of San Shou Kickboxing, he moved on to MMA and had gone 5-0 to this point.
Shamrock had promised to "stand and trade with Le" in earlier pre-fight banter, and that was exactly what he did. The two went toe to toe the entire first round, trading fists and kicks throughout the round, with Le getting the better of the exchanges.
Round two was much of the same, with Cung Le peppering Shamrock with a wide variety of kicks. Though appearing to be losing on the cards, Shamrock remained true to his larger than life persona, often smiling at Le and playing to the audience. Going back to his corner after round two, Shamrock looked beaten up, sporting various welts from the powerful kickboxer.
During round three Shamrock looked to had hurt Le with some hard counter punches to his jaw. Le, quickly backpedaling and all the while taking more shots, looked to be in serious trouble from Shamrock's fists and elbows. Miraculously, Le managed to regain his full facilities and went back to his ruthless onslaught of kicks.
Tagging Shamrock several times with kicks and punches at the closing bell of round three, Le headed back to his corner. Shamrock looking very dazed didn't quite make it back to his stool, falling to his knees half way there in obvious agony. With Shamrock laying on the canvas clutching his right arm, he was unable to make the bell for round four, giving Cung Le the victory by TKO and crowning him the new Strikefore World Middleweight Champion.
Shamrock however got a trip to San Jose's Valley Medical Center for treatment of a broken right arm. It was later determind the injury will require surgery and Shamrock will need to have a plate inserted.
- FULL FIGHT RESULTS -
Cung Le beats Frank Shamrock by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) at 5:00 of R3
Billy Evangelista beats Marlon Sims by KO at 0:39 of R3
Drew Fickett beats Jae Suk Lim by Submission (Guillotine) at 1:14 of R1
Gilbert Melendez beats Gabe Lemley by TKO (Referee Stoppage) at 2:18 of R2
Wayne Cole beats Mike Kyle by Submission (Armbar) at 0:42 of R1
Joey Villasenor beats Ryan Jensen by KO at 4:45 of R1
Tiki Goshn beats Luke Stewart by Decision (Unanimous)
Darren Uyenoyama beats Anthony Figueroa by Submission (Guillotine) at 1:27 of R1
Jesse Jones beats Jesse Gillespie by TKO at 0:35 of R1
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